payment

UK: /ˈpeɪmənt/ US: /ˈpeɪmənt/ ,(pā′mənt)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

pay•ment /ˈpeɪmənt/   n. 

1. something paid;
   an amount paid:
   [countable] payments of several million dollars.
2. [uncountable] the act of paying.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

pay•ment  (pā′mənt), n. 

1. something that is paid;
   an amount paid;
   compensation;
   recompense.
2. the act of paying.
3. reward or punishment;
   requital.

• Middle French. See pay¹, -ment
• Middle English, variant of paiement 1300–50

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

payment / ˈpeɪmənt/ noun

1. the act of paying
2. a sum of money paid
3. something given in return; punishment or reward